EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTATION WITH TYPICAL MEXICAN FOODS (OPTUNA FICUS INDICA, THEOBROMA CACAO AND EDIBLE CRICKETS) IN HIGH-FAT/HIGH-SUGAR DIET-FED MICE

Introduction and objectives

The obesogenic environment, including high fat/ high sugar diet, are risk factors for developing multiple diseases associated with obesity, such as metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and metabolic syndrome, among others. An increase in physical activity and change of diet is the first therapeutic line to prevent or treat obesity; however, adherence to this treatment is negligible. Therefore, this communication's objective was to evaluate the effect of supplementation with a mixture of foods of Mexican origin: Optuna ficus indica, Theobroma cacao and edible crickets (MexTHER) on a diet high in saturated-fats and fructose-sucrose in obesogenic mice.

Material and methods

Twenty male C57BL/6J mice were divided into three groups between 7 and 8 weeks of age. Control group: Normal diet (ND) for 16 weeks; HF Group: Diet with 45% of Kcal from fat and water added with 55% fructose and 45% sucrose ad libitum for 16 weeks; and Therapeutic group: HF diet up to week eight and the last 8 weeks switched to a high fat/sugar diet supplemented with 10% nopal, 10% cocoa and 10% cricket (MexTHER). The animals were sacrificed at 16 weeks and histological, biochemistry and cognitive analysis were performed.

Results

Mice fed with MexTHER diet showed a significant reduction in weight at sacrifice. After two weeks MexTHER group equaled their weight to the ND group (ND = 35.92 ± 4.76, HF = 47 ± 7.11, MexTHER = 34.20 ± 6.71 p <0.001). Liver weight, visceral fat, and epididymal fat were also significantly reduced. The MexTHER group significantly decreased levels of triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL, insulin, glucose, GIP, leptin, PAI-1 and resistin. The livers of MexTHER and ND mice did not show histological alterations. The size of adipocytes showed significantly smaller diameters in the MexTHER group against HF group. Mice supplemented with MexTHER improved cognitive parameters, obtaining higher Discrimination Index than the ND group in test novel object recognition (NOR).

Discussion

Supplementation with nopal or cocoa has been shown to reduce alterations caused by a diet high in fat and sugar; however, the simultaneous supplementation proposed in this project induced more noticeable benefits, being similar to those achieved with a switch from HF diet to ND diet.

Conclusions

MexTHER supplementation is a potential strategy for the treatment of diseases associated with excessive consumption of fat and sugars, such as MAFLD.

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

This work has been fully subsidized by the Fond de Desarrollo Scientific de Jalisco (FODECIJAL) with key number 7941-2019.